ST. LOUIS (AP)  At a time when blood donations are down, the American Red Cross is especially pleased with a St. Louis man.

Maurice Wood, 77, holds a pair of records in the Guinness Book of World Records for giving blood. He has been donating for 54 years, longer than anyone else in the world, and has made 301 donations during that span.

Every two months, Wood travels to the South St. Louis County American Red Cross donation center in Crestwood, although he could easily come up with excuses to stay home. He takes medicine for Parkinson's disease and high blood pressure.

"I come because I like the idea," he told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I always have. I am going to give until I can't give any more. It's a pleasure to give. It is easy to do, and I know that somewhere, it helps save somebody's life."

Colleen Meyer, supervising nurse at the donation center, said Wood is so persistent in his mission that he battled an ice storm the last time he donated.

So far, Wood has given 37 1/2 gallons of blood, one pint at a time. The Guinness world-record holder, Maurice Creswick of South Africa, has donated 49 gallons.

Wood, a former federal railroad inspector, began donating in 1950 when he was 24. His blood type is AB positive, which only 3% of U.S. residents have. That blood type is unique in that it can be used to transfuse pregnant women or newborn babies.

Wood is inspiring other older donors to give.

Charles "Joe" Kovac Jr., 84, of Concord Village, has donated 15 1/2 gallons of blood since 1962, when he was 42. His goal is to donate 25 gallons of blood by the time he is 100. He earlier sent Wood a fan letter, and the two visit by telephone.

Red Cross spokesman Jim Williams said the agency is grateful.

"We aren't looking for world-record setters; we are just looking for people who want to help save lives," he said.

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